SOAP Devotional 2014-04-30
Scripture – Observation – Application – Prayer
Scripture:
In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. (1 Peter 5:5, 6 NLT)
Observation:
Those who are younger in ministry should respect those who have been placed above them as elders. You should be humble in your actions around each other and not elevate yourself. God opposes those who do such things, but if you walk in humility without trying to promote yourself, when the time is right, God will promote you to higher positions.
Application:
Everyone wants to be an authority as soon as possible. People get saved and if they have a good testimony we push them into ministry far before they are ready. Next thing you know they start to believe all the hype and assume “elder” positions before they have been properly discipled. Even the twelve had to be trained for three and a half years before God sent them out without his personal guidance. We do a disservice to people when we do not first teach people to serve under the guidance and authority of an elder first. This is God's way, first we learn to serve under human authority sanctioned by God himself before we are allowed to be in authority. Even then, we must wait on the promotion to come from God and not something we simply attain on our own.
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for those you have had me to serve under. I thank you for holding me back when I would have promoted myself. Let me only walk in authority that you might give and then only under your guidance.